Avalanche Related Articles
- Avalanche Danger Checklist (for those folks who like reminders of some of the components that lead to increased avalanche danger)
- Avalanche Myths Debunked (discussion of selected "avalanche myths" or popular misconceptions about avalanches and avalanche related dangers)
- Common Themes in Avalanche Accidents (a synopsis of either mistakes or overlooked phenomena that have led to avalanche accidents in the past)
- ISSW06 Rough Stability Correlations Paper (2006) This paper describes some of the science behind the Rough Stability Test Correlations (2004) and the Simplified Field Version Correlations links presented below)
- Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Fatalities Paper (2006) (Paper describing the very serious and life-threatening problems associated with deep snow burial and possible suffocation)
- Rough Stability Tests Correlations (experience based graphic showing how some of the popular stability tests correlate with each other)
- Wet Snow in the Northwest (description of the colar and energy balance effects that can turn that spring outing into a wet, gooey and dangerous mess)
- Tracking the Impact of a Facet-Crust Combination at Crystal Mountain, WA (interesting and well written article by Chris Morin of the Crystal Mt Pro Patrol that describes the impacts and longevity of a faceted crust that developed after a heavy rain event on Martin Luther King Holiday in 2011. The impacts of this crust persisted thru the winter both within and beyond the developed ski area, with related large slide releases reported into May of 2011)
Mountain Weather Related Articles
- Field Forecasting Methodology (short summary of important parts of storm evolution, useful for checking whether changing conditions portend more dangerous weather)
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(While some cry out in pain, El Nio does not necessarily result in dire straits for NW winters. And besides, California needs snow too! Check out the most common effects of El Nio on the NW snowpack with figures showing variation in snowdepths by winter season)
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ña as a part of the El Nño-Southern Oscillation correlation, and its anticipated mountain weather effects around the mountain west. Updated annual avalanche accident figures are also presented that continue to indicate a possible correlation between an ENSO driven winter and avalanche fatalities in North America.
- This 2007 paper discussing the impacts of La Nina on NW snowfall, with graphs of average snowdepths depending on La Nina strength
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(while still a work in progress, this reference presents probably much more than you ever thought you needed to know about mountain weather measurement systems)
NWAC Annual Reports
(explore past winters through these summaries of NWAC operation and the evolution of past snowpack, weather and avalanche condtions)

